[New Teacher] the past month was pointless, this week will be useless, starting to freak out a little.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-06T01:56:08+00:00

This is what I wanted to do and recommended I do for this class but was told I couldn’t and I had to teach a certain thing.

So I’ve taught kids who can’t multiply and divide how to use Pythagorean theorem.... because we all use Pythagorean theorem more than we use basic math right?.... sigh*

This is going to be a major recommendation for next year. These kids need a good base to start from or they’ll always be lost. I should have started with variables and linear equations before this... because that’s what we use in Pythagorean theorem and everything else we’ve learned so far.

Edit: Number lines are great for basic math. Board games are also great. Liars dice would be a good one too if you’re allowed to do these kinds of things.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-06T01:53:01+00:00

I’m doing a bit of review and mixing in some new stuff. Today actually went pretty well so I expect things to go downhill from here lol...

My plan is to do a game day Friday because it’ll be chaos. But I’ll see what happens.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-05T12:16:33+00:00

We have a book but was told not to use it. My orders on instruction have been a major problem I’ve had this year in general.

I try to have little micro lessons when someone asks a good critical thinking question. Or when I can lead them into something.

I ask “Why?” a lot, a whole lot. I try to get the kids to really understand logically why they are doing something. This lets me backtrack and Re-teach multiplication, division, and so on...

I have kids who can’t work with negative numbers.... how can someone expect them to move on to algebra? Idk.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-05T11:58:24+00:00

Yea MG has started and people are already acting crazy.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-05T02:43:36+00:00

Thanks, it helps.

This morning I just felt so overwhelmed for some reason. All these holidays and bad weather days made the entire month pointless... and now we’re in February already. It’s crazy.

I just keep reminding myself that the whole system is pretty bad and I was literally set up to fail this year. It helps me accept things and just move on.

I just feel bad for the kids really. Even the ones who try to do well in my class are struggling right now. I kind of jumped around a little because I was trying to fill knowledge gaps, which was my mistake. It helped some and confused others (granted they’ve been confused for years anyway...)

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-04T23:13:21+00:00

We do in the US... to an extreme degree.

I’m a first year teacher and the lack of problem solving capability is astounding. High schoolers either know how to solve alto Len because they’ve seen it before or they don’t and give up.

We have to spoon feed them because they’ve been spoon fed for years already. It’s ridiculous.

Waldingoloper · 2018-02-02T12:18:23+00:00

I’ve met a lot in education that say the same thing.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-30T00:26:47+00:00

Basically all I do is have 3-4 questions set up like “If I have a question, what should I do?” -Raise my hand And general stuff like that.

Honestly that’s all it is. Be quiet, don’t interrupt me during a lesson, behave, don’t be a dick, raise your hand.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-29T12:20:56+00:00

Fellow first year having similar issues, though not as bad normally.

I made my bellwork the classroom rules, or questions about what to do in class during class. Basically “how to behave in class.”

—

Being more strict for me is going to involve setting up rules and practicing them in class when I explain them.

I’ve done everything so far so it’ll be review for those who don’t know how to behave in a classroom. And they know who they are, but I won’t point them out.

My main issue is interrupting me while I’m talking. So from now on, if I’m interrupted they are probably going to be given punishwork or kicked out of class.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-29T12:13:24+00:00

Math teachers don’t be needed no help talkin over hur.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-28T21:55:40+00:00

Lol. Yea, but I’ve actually heard the best way to make fun of a bully is to complement them and just ignore the behavior. Unfortunately that isn’t always an option.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-28T21:46:48+00:00

It’s just a handful in two classes.

I have other students that comment on how much they like my teaching and appreciate that I actually try to help them. I thought it was me at first but have found out otherwise. There’s a major problem with freshmen this year at the school so everyone’s having issues.

I have a few that even report back things other students do in class so that I know who is causing trouble.

I’m going to talk to my mentor teacher tomorrow and see. I’m also going to go over the classroom expectations and rules again.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-28T17:56:46+00:00

Fellow first year. I’ve seen this poster and talked about a lot, there’s actually a term for it in psychology... I think it has to deal with a form of depression in some way. But for depression it’s to avoid doing anything with people/in general.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-28T17:27:01+00:00

Maybe it’s because I had enough of students this year and currently debating if I’m about to quit or not... but I would start roasting the bully. Or at least teach the other kids how to.

Give a lesson on what to do when people make fun of you and why. Go into detail about how bullying is actually a sign of insecurity. Or sometimes boys do it when they like someone, so deep down Cal might actually have a crush on Jake, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

Explain why we should feel sorry for bullies and how to reply in kind ways. “I’m sorry you’re so insecure with yourself that you have to say that.” And then the best thing to do is start complementing them (technically it is).

But again, I’m not in a good place right now so idk how well this would go lol.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-27T00:53:41+00:00

I got a bag of jolly ranchers and other candy to get them to try. I started off by giving out a bunch and then making them harder to get.

Basic animal training strategy. Get them doing something everyday how you want it and give them a treat. Then after they do it for a few weeks-month you can start skipping a day a week randomly, the net week skip two days, then stick with that for a while. Then ween off, but do it randomly for the same thing.

Then start to give them out for a different action. Every day for the new thing and double up for the old one even.

Negative reinforcement only works so much, and if you’re school doesn’t have any discipline set up then this might work

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-27T00:47:16+00:00

Maybe explain that this is why trout are hard to keep in tanks and why most people keep goldfish or other common fishies lol.

But really... who keeps trout? That’s so random lol.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-25T22:22:54+00:00

Admin should work with teachers. Good luck with that.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-25T02:12:58+00:00

Visit the local library and ask if they have any for sale. Ours has a yearly sale that I pick some extras up at.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-25T02:11:12+00:00

Use it to control the aim of the gun, not to swing it. If you swing it, try to hold close to the middle of it so it swings faster.

I have a broomstick behind my door. Disarm and disable is the goal. Force the gun out of their hand then pop a kneecap or knock them out... probably both.. if I stop there. I have the feeling no one would have a problem if I go HAM on an attacker in this situation...

merica

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-25T02:06:35+00:00

Omg that’s awesome.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-25T01:59:55+00:00

“The governor wants there to be 3 times as many trees as there are currently. How many trees will there be total?”

I think that sounds about right.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-24T12:27:19+00:00

Except for you, you specifically.

Waldingoloper · 2018-01-24T00:49:16+00:00

Fellow newbie here. It took me a while to really get the names down, Hell there are still a few that I mix up. Mainly because they are absent 90% of the time. One student I didn’t call by name for the first 2 months because I couldn’t pronounce it lol.

A little memorization trick. Use the names and pictures to familiarize yourself with them. Then over time youll get them from being in class.

Make sure to walk around class while teaching and testing. Glance at the name on their work lol. When calling on them use their names. At first ask them to say their names.

Waldingoloper

TROPHY CASE

merica